Michael Collins will become the town of Paradise Valley's next mayor, but races for five council seats will not be settled until the end of the day today.

Collins, the current vice mayor, ran unopposed.

Early results showed incumbent Coucilman Paul Dembow, Maria Syms and Jerald Bien-Willner in the lead to secure three available four-year terms. Bien-Willner serves on the town's Planning Commission, and Syms has served on that commission in the past.

For two-year terms, Mark Stanton and David Sherf, who was appointed to fill a vacancy, were leading in the race to fill two seats.

But the other candidates — Giselle Alexander and Daran Wastchak for the four-year terms and Brad Forst for the two-year seats — are within striking distance if the final votes to be counted fall their way.

Town Clerk Duncan Miller said Wednesday nothing except the mayor's race is settled until the final vote is counted. He said there could be several hundred votes outstanding.

Depending on the final tally, a runoff would be held in conjunction with the November election.

The town had so many seats open due to resignations and decisions not to seek re-election. Miller said none of that appears to have affected turnout, which he declared "about average for us," in the mid-30 percents.

The vote is the first one under a state law consolidating election dates.

"This is the first time a council race is on a statewide ballot," Miller said.

More than 5,000 voters cast ballots for the four-year terms. To determine outright winners, the votes are divided by three, the number of seats, then two to determine 50 percent.

But far fewer people voted in the two-year race.

Collins, meanwhile, issued a statement upon his victory. He said he would like to promote participation in town decisions and leadership. He also said the 2013 approval for a revitalized Mountain Shadows is beginning to take shape and hoped the same collaboration can be achieved in bringing the dormant Ritz-Carlton plan back to life too.

Collins said the council would be busy upon taking office in January, hiring a new police chief and town manager.